European Football Championship Qualifying

[Nearly Sane]

Looking at the details of the play offs draw, it appears that it ensures that lower ranked teams will get through. It also seem a very complex decision about who goes in what groups.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2020_qualifying

[Outrider]

Indeed - you have to feel for Slovenia and Greece who look like coming third in their groups and not only being eliminated, but face the prospect of seeing teams they beat in their qualifying groups go into the play offs based on performance in another tournament!

O.

[Nearly Sane]

Yes, that's a nonsense.

[jeremyp]

Yes, that's a nonsense.

The point is to give the Nations League some relevancy.

I've read the rules on how the teams are selected but they seem bizarre, although they make a bit more sense now that I've realised that there are four group winners in each Nations League, not just one.

[Nearly Sane]

The point is to give the Nations League some relevancy.

I've read the rules on how the teams are selected but they seem bizarre, although they make a bit more sense now that I've realised that there are four group winners in each Nations League, not just one.

I agree that's what it's for but I cannot avoid feeling that it's unfair on teams who do better in the actual qualifying group to be eliminated while teams they best remain in. Add to that the whole thing about the teams being moved to different pots based on whether or not they are hosting any matches seems odd.

[jeremyp]

I cannot avoid feeling that it's unfair on teams who do better in the actual qualifying group to be eliminated while teams they best remain in.

I agree and Greece is the obvious example. They finished third in group, including beating a team that has qualified for the playoffs. Also two teams in the league below theirs in Nations League, Kosovo and Belarus, have qualified despite scoring fewer points. Belarus got four points to Greece's fourteen.

[Nearly Sane]

So Scotland play Isreal which of the teams we could have drawn probably the best draw. Unfortunately we've then been drawn to play away if we win against Norway or Serbia. It also appears that due to the rules of the draw for the Championship itself we know that were we to qualify (I know, it feels unlikely to me too after 21 years) we would be in England's group.

[jeremyp]

So Scotland play Isreal which of the teams we could have drawn probably the best draw. Unfortunately we've then been drawn to play away if we win against Norway or Serbia. It also appears that due to the rules of the draw for the Championship itself we know that were we to qualify (I know, it feels unlikely to me too after 21 years) we would be in England's group.

Let's review the kind of glorious highlights that can happen in an England-Scotland match in the Euros

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evnXFu744uY

This is the only goal I've ever seen where I can still visualise exactly what happened years later without referring back to the video.

[Nearly Sane]

Let's review the kind of glorious highlights that can happen in an England-Scotland match in the Euros

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evnXFu744uY

This is the only goal I've ever seen where I can still visualise exactly what happened years later without referring back to the video.

It's a brilliant goal

[Nearly Sane]

All very simple


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50564763

[jeremyp]

And they're in

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50616341

Could be a tricky group for England, Croatia are only just below us in the world rankings and I wouldn't regard the Czech Republic as a pushover either. We have, at least, dodged Iceland.

Wouldn't want to be in path B: Spain, Sweden and Poland are currently all inside the World top 20.

[Nearly Sane]

And they're in

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50616341

Could be a tricky group for England, Croatia are only just below us in the world rankings and I wouldn't regard the Czech Republic as a pushover either. We have, at least, dodged Iceland.

Wouldn't want to be in path B: Spain, Sweden and Poland are currently all inside the World top 20.

My understanding is that the winner of England's group play the runners up of Group made up of France, Germany, Portugal and TBA.

[jeremyp]

My understanding is that the winner of England's group play the runners up of Group made up of France, Germany, Portugal and TBA.

Your understanding is correct.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/european-championship/schedule/knockout-stage

It might be better to come second, then you get the runner up of group E (Spain, Poland, Sweden).

[ad_orientem]

The whole thing seems like a mess, if you ask me.